Two more solons back ABS-CBN franchise renewal

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Two more proposed legislations seeking to grant network giant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise have been filed before the Lower House.

House Deputy Speaker Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas (Pangasinan) and Parañaque Rep. Myra Joy Tambunting are the latest members of the House of Representatives who filed ABS-CBN’s application for franchise renewal under House Bill 3521 and House Bill 3713 respectively.

The filing of the bills came less than a year before the Kapamilya network’s present legislative franchise under Republic Act No. 7966 lapses.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Michaela Violago spearheaded the campaign for the Kapamilya network’s franchise renewal after refiling the measure under House Bill 676 last month.

The measure failed to hurdle the 17th Congress after it was not tackled by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises under the Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy”Alvarez.

Article 12 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states that “Neither shall any such franchise or right be granted except under the condition that it shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress when the common good so requires.”

Under the present charter, the application for franchise is done through a normal legislative process in both the Lower House and Senate and is still need to be signed by the President after its Congressional approval.

President Rodrigo Duterte on many occasions vowed that he will approved the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN in Congress if ever it will be successfully passed by Congress.

But Communications Sec. Martin Andanar in July said the President will no longer oppose ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal if it passes congressional hurdle.

https://politics.com.ph/two-more-solons-back-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/